Losing a parent or relative is hard enough without wondering what to do with the contents of their home. This post covers the specific questions Dorset families ask us most — the sequence, the costs, the paperwork and what happens to the things nobody wants to keep.
1. When to arrange the clearance
Wait until the Grant of Probate is issued unless the property is jointly owned. Once probate is granted, beneficiaries have usually had time to visit and take the keepsakes they want. That's the right moment to book a clearance — normally 8–16 weeks after the death. For a longer walkthrough of the process, see our complete probate clearance pillar guide.
If the estate is being sold, coordinate the clearance date with your estate agent so the property is ready to photograph and viewings can start immediately. Local timings vary a little — see the Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch service pages for area-specific notes.
2. Who has authority to instruct us
We only accept instruction from someone with legal authority: the executor named in the will, an administrator granted Letters of Administration, or a solicitor acting on their behalf. If you're unsure, ask your probate solicitor — or send us their details and we'll confirm it directly. Our full probate clearance service page explains the paperwork we need.
3. How much probate house clearance costs in Dorset
Dorset prices in 2026 typically range from £450 for a 1-bed flat to £1,600+ for a long-occupied 4-bed family home with a loft and garage. Cost is driven by volume, access, and how much can be reused or recycled rather than tipped. We never charge extra tip fees after quoting — request a fixed-price probate quote with a few photos and you'll have a figure back within the hour.
4. Documents, valuables and photographs
Our team sets aside anything that looks personal or financial: passports, deeds, bank statements, jewellery, watches, coins, cash, medals, photographs and letters. These go directly to the executor or into a labelled box for collection. Nothing sentimental is disposed of without written sign-off — this is the number-one worry families raise, and the rule that never bends.
5. Where the contents actually go
We divert 90%+ of contents away from landfill: usable furniture to Dorset charities and reuse hubs, textiles to recyclers, WEEE electricals to licensed processors, metals for salvage. Only genuinely unusable residual waste reaches licensed transfer stations — always with a Waste Transfer Note for the estate file. See our eco-friendly clearance guide for the full breakdown.
6. For Dorset solicitors handling probate
If you're a probate paralegal or solicitor, set up a trade account via our solicitors & estate agents page. You'll get a named contact, priority scheduling, consolidated monthly invoicing and per-property fixed pricing — so instructing a clearance takes one email.
Next step
The clearance itself is the easy part when it's handled properly. Send a few photos through the quote form and we'll reply within one working hour with a fair, fixed price. If you'd rather talk it through first, contact the team — we handle every enquiry with the discretion an estate deserves.